A cowboy-hat-wearing Mormon rancher who died during the arrests of his fellow Oregon occupiers on Tuesday night had vowed weeks ago never to be taken alive by authorities, NBC News reported.
LaVoy Finicum, one of the protesters' de facto spokesmen, died after shots were fired when police stopped the group on Highway 395 as they headed to a public meeting. Five of his cohorts were arrested at the scene, officials said.
Authorities would not confirm Finicum's death but his daughter Challice Finch told NBC News that she had been notified by another protester. The Mormon rancher from Arizona had 11 children, 19 grandchildren and a wife of 23 years.
